Ed Burkholder’s passion for hockey was ignited at an early age. Whether on the street with his brothers, or on the pond with his friends or at the rink with his teammates, his life has always involved hockey. Ed rose through the ranks of minor hockey and went on to play with the Thorold Jr. B. Blackhawks from 1986-1989 before shifting his focus to behind the bench as a coach.
Ed has invested time and energy into the Welland community. With more than 25 years of coaching experience including Welland Midget AAA. Ed and his son Murray operate Burkholder Hockey and annually run successful clinics in Niagara for players of all ages. Many an athlete and their families can be found sporting Burkholder Hockey merchandise. Those wearing hoodies, hats and t-shirts wear a little piece of history with the inclusion of his late father Murray Burkholder’s initials on the glove as well as the year that Burkholder Hockey began.
Ed’s knowledge and passion for hockey further developed into a scouting career at all levels of professional hockey. He started with the WPHL San Angelo Outlaws in 2000. In 2001 he joined the Boston Bruins ECHL affiliate Greenville Grrrowl and worked with them for two seasons including the ECHL Kelly Cup Championship in 2002.
In 2003, Ed joined the Toledo Hockey Operations Department as a Scout. Today, Ed is Director of Scouting for the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL. Toledo is the proud affiliate of the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings. During Toledo’s two year hiatus from the ECHL, Ed scouted for the Detroit Red Wings.
Ed has owned and operated Burkholder Auto Net Work since 1999. Burkholder’s is a full-service automotive repair shop, which offers a broad range of vehicle solutions, from oil changes to brakes to tire sales. They are known for their caring approach, providing customers with excellent services at competitive rates.
Ed Burkholder’s broadcasting career started in December of 2005 with his first appearance on TSN’s hit show Off The Record with Michael Landsberg. Burkholder became a fan favourite among viewers across Canada. Ed was a regular guest on the show with more than 65 appearances. In a team effort, Ed produced and hosted a candid one hour interview with Michael Landsberg called #Sicknotweak focussing on Michael’s life and experience with depression. This honest open dialogue created an overwhelming response. Since then, several school boards have included this interview in their health curriculum.
In 2007 Burkholder was hired to provide the colour commentary for The Niagara IceDogs on Your TV’s The OHL Tonight. Fans have come to appreciate his high energy, entertaining and informative style.
As a Guest Speaker, Ed tailors each talk to the needs of the group. He focuses on promoting Kindness, Respect and Hard Work, the importance of being Honest and giving your best Effort in whatever you are trying to do. His “If you Believe you can Achieve” approach has inspired athletes and audiences alike. Ed has faced his own battle with testicular cancer. He went public with his battle in an effort to raise awareness to others who may be fighting the same fight. As a cancer survivor he candidly speaks about his experience and the importance of self-examinations and regular check-ups.
Ed Burkholder started #CheckYourselfExpressYourself in 2012. Ed feels everyone has a story that will inspire others, that everybody has struggles, that everyone has lost someone they love to either cancer or mental Illness. CYEY is about sharing, plugging into that person beside you. Of the millions of people that suffer from depression only half share it. No ONE should suffer in silence. Ed also has a #CheckYourselfExpressYourself Podcast. This podcast will bring you down the road of some amazing people’s lives. The ups and the downs hopefully will hit home. Plug in and join on us on this exciting journey. Available on Apple Music Spotify, Amazon, Google Play and Podomatic, or at CheckYourselfExpressYourself.com
Burkholder Elite Prospects Bio